Divisible valve connector

Abstract

A divisible valve connector for connecting two fluid conduits is provided. The connector may have a first component defining a first fluid connection and a second component defining a second fluid connection. The first component may include a first valve body section and a first shaft section while the second component may include a second valve body section and a second shaft section. The first component and second component may be configured to releasably interlock together to form the valve connector and, when interlocked, the first shaft section and second shaft section form a unitary shaft rotatable between an opened position and a closed position.

1 . A divisible valve connector, comprising:
 a first component defining a first fluid connection, the first component comprising a first valve body section and a first shaft section; and   a second component defining a second fluid connection, the second component comprising a second valve body section and a second shaft section;   wherein the first component and second component are configured to releasably interlock together to form the valve connector and, when interlocked, the first shaft section and second shaft section form a unitary shaft rotatable between an opened position and a closed position;   wherein, when the first shaft section and the second shaft section are in the opened position, the first fluid connection and the second fluid connection are fluidly connected via a fluid passage through the first shaft section;   wherein, when the first shaft section and the second shaft section are in the closed position, the first fluid connection is sealed and the second fluid connection is sealed; and   wherein, when the first shaft section and the second shaft section are in the closed position, the first component and the second component are capable of being separated while the first fluid connection and the second fluid connection remain sealed.   
     
     
         2 . The divisible valve connector of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first gasket section positioned between the first valve body section and the first shaft section; and   a second gasket section positioned between the second valve body section and the second shaft section.   
     
     
         3 . The divisible valve connector of  claim 2 , wherein the first gasket section and second gasket section each include a plurality of embedded o-rings that protrude from the surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The divisible valve connector of  claim 2 , wherein the first gasket section has a lip that extends along a perimeter of an upper and a lower edge of the first gasket section that interfaces with the second gasket section. 
     
     
         5 . The divisible valve connector of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first handle section coupled to the first shaft section; and   a second handle section coupled to the second shaft section,   wherein the first handle section and the second handle section form a unitary handle when the first component and second component are coupled and the unitary handle is configured to rotate the unitary shaft when the handle is turned.   
     
     
         6 . The divisible valve connector of  claim 1 , further comprising a stop positioned adjacent the handle or unitary shaft, wherein the stop is configured to limit the rotation of the handle or unitary shaft between the opened position and the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The divisible valve connector of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first lock comprising a channel member that is configured to rotate around a portion of the first component and the second component locking them together, when the first and second components are interlocked together, and   wherein the channel member is rotationally attached to either the first component or the second component.   
     
     
         8 . The divisible valve connector of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a second lock comprising a locking pin housed in either the first component or the second component that engages with the rotatable channel member of the first lock,   wherein, when the unitary shaft is in the closed position, the locking pin is in an unlocked position enabling the channel member of the first lock to rotate from a locked to an unlocked position.   
     
     
         9 . The divisible valve connector of  claim 7 , further comprising a shaft lock comprising a shaft pin positioned within the second shaft section, wherein the shaft pin is configured to lock rotation of the second shaft section when the channel member is in an unlocked position and unlock rotation of the second shaft section when the channel member is in a locked position. 
     
     
         10 . The divisible valve connector of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary shaft forms a cylindrical-shaped shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The divisible valve connector of  claim 1 , wherein, when the first shaft section and the second shaft section are in the closed position, the first component and the second component are capable of being separated while the fluid passage remains sealed. 
     
     
         12 . The divisible valve connector of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a flow path diameter of the divisible valve connector to a length of the divisible valve connector is about 1:3.1 or less. 
     
     
         13 . A method of connecting a divisible fluid connector, the method comprising:
 joining a first component defining a first fluid connection with a second component defining a second fluid connection, wherein the first component includes a first valve body section and a first shaft section and the second component includes a second valve body section and a second shaft section; and   rotating a unitary shaft from a closed position to an open position, wherein the unitary shaft is formed of the first shaft section and second shaft section when the first component and the second component are joined,   wherein when the first shaft section and the second shaft section are in the open position, the first fluid connection and the second fluid connection are fluidly connected via a fluid passage through the first shaft section;   wherein when the first shaft section and the second shaft section are in the closed position, the first fluid connection is sealed and the second fluid connection is sealed; and   wherein when the first shaft section and the second shaft section are in the closed position, the first component and the second component are capable of being separated while the first fluid connection and the second fluid connection remain sealed.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising forming a handle from a first handle section coupled to the first shaft section and a second handle section coupled to the second shaft section, wherein the handle is formed when the first component and the second component are joined, and the handle is configured to rotate the unitary shaft when the handle is turned. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising limiting the rotation of the handle or unitary shaft between the open position and the closed position by a stop positioned adjacent to the handle or unitary shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising locking the first component and the second component together using a first lock comprising a channel member that is configured to rotate around a portion of the first component and the second component when joined between a locked and unlocked position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein
 the first component further includes a first gasket section positioned between the first valve body section and the first shaft section and the second component further includes a second gasket section positioned between the second valve body section and the second shaft section; and   the first lock is configured such that when locked, the first valve body section and the second valve body section are pressed together applying pressure to the first gasket section and the second gasket section in an axial direction.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising locking the first lock in the locked position place using a second lock comprising a locking pin housed in either the first component or the second component that engages with the channel member of the first lock thereby preventing rotation,
 wherein the locking pin is configured such that, when the unitary shaft is in the closed position, the locking pin is in an unlocked position enabling the channel member of the first lock to rotate to the unlocked position.   
     
     
         19 . The divisible valve connector of  claim 16 , further comprising locking rotation of the second shaft section when the channel member is in the unlocked position using a shaft lock comprising a shaft pin positioned within the second shaft section configured to engage with the second valve body. 
     
     
         20 . A method of disconnecting a divisible fluid connection, the method comprising:
 separating a first component defining a first fluid connection from a second component defining a second fluid connection, wherein the first component includes a first valve body section and a first shaft section and the second component includes a second valve body section and a second shaft section; and   rotating a unitary shaft from an open position to a closed position, wherein the unitary shaft is formed of the first shaft section and the second shaft section when the first component and the second component are joined,   wherein when the first shaft section and the second shaft section are in the open position, the first fluid connection and the second fluid connection are fluidly connected via a fluid passage through the first shaft section;   wherein when the first shaft section and the second shaft section are in the closed position, the first fluid connection is sealed and the second fluid connection is sealed; and   wherein when the first shaft section and the second shaft section are in the closed position, the first component and the second component are capable of being separated while the first fluid connection and the second fluid connection remain sealed.